Steve Barton
Steve Barton (* June 26 1954 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA; † July 21 2001 in Bremen, Germany) was an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, stage director and teacher.
Short biography
Steven Neal Barton was born on June 26 1954 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA, as youngest from 3 children of his parents, Tom and Mary Barton. He grew up in Nederland, Texas, USA.
Later he won a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in theatre and dance, appearing in over 30 productions with the University of Texas and with the Ballet of Austin. After graduation he went to Europe, getting his first job at St. Gallen, Switzerland and then playing in major Swiss, German and Austrian theatre companies.
He played leading roles in WEST SIDE STORY, GODSPELL, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE FANTASTICKS, THE THREEPENNY OPERA, OKLAHOMA!, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EVITA, GUYS AND DOLLS and CAMELOT, before playing the role of Munkustrap in Austria, in the Original Vienna Cast of CATS, at the 'Theater an der Wien'. At the 'Theater des Westens' in Berlin, Germany, he played roles in GUYS AND DOLLS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (as Jesus) , LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (as both Jean Michel and Albin/Zaza) and was playing Robert in COMPANY when he got the audition news for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in London, UK.
Steve Barton was married to dancer and choreographer Denny Berry, (Dance Supervisor for the North American productions of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA), who he met at College. They have a son, Edward, who was born in Vienna, in 1983. Steve and Denny had a Presidental Scholarship at the University of Texas named for them. Steve Barton has also been named an Honorary Chairperson for the STEADMAN/HAWKINS SPORTS MEDICINE FOUNDATION and was an honorary member of the Board of Education at the University of Texas, in Austin.
Steve Barton 1996 returned to Vienna, Austria, where he took over the part of the Beast in Disney's DIE SCHÖNE UND DAS BIEST. He originated afterwards Count von Krolock in Roman Polanski's TANZ DER VAMPIRE, (Music: Jim Steinman, Lyrics: Michael Kunze), a role which brought him 1998 an IMAGE, (International Music Award Germany). He played Count von Krolock until January 17, 1999. In 1997 Steve Barton during this role would be in his 30-year onstage anniversary to celebrate. Tanz der Vampire was also the last Musical in which Steve Barton stood on a stage. He died unexpectedly on July 21, 2001 at the age of 47 years in Bremen, Germany. His ash was buried in his native country in Texas, USA, in August 2001.
- Phantom of the Opera, Original Cast, (1988), as Raoul and as Phantom (1990)
- The Red Shoes, as Boris Lermontov, (1993)
Off-Broadway
- Cats, 1983 and 1984,in Vienna, Austria, (as Munkustrap/Dance Capitan)
- Anastasia Affaire, 1991 and 1992, (as Prince Paul)
- Six Wives, 1993, (as 'Henry VIII')
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1993, (as Quasimodo)
- 1997 - 1999: Tanz der Vampire (Vienna, as Graf von Krolock)
Regional
Phantom of the Opera, 1990 and 1991, Los Angeles, (as Phantom), Kiss me Kate, 1994, (as Fred Graham and Petruchio), Goodspeed Opera House, CT, Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD, (as Sweeney Todd), January and February 1996 in Pittsburgh, and Nick Cameron, alias the Count of Luxemburg in LET'S DO IT!, a new A. R. Gurney Show with Cole Porter music and lyrics which workshopped at the Long Wharf Theater, New Haven, CT, in April and May 1996.
TV (guest-roles)
TATORT, 1992, guest-role as FBI Agent Mike Haller, ORF, Austria
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, 1994 and ANOTHER WORLD, 1994, guest roles
Discography
CATS, 1983, (as Munkustrap), Original Vienna Cast, in German, MEISTERSTUECKE, 2 duets with Angelika Milster, 1985, OLC, Highlights from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, 1987, OLC, Complete Recording THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, 1987, (as Raoul), OLC THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (as Raoul), SHOW BOAT, 1988, (as Steve Baker), COLE PORTER Centennial Gala Concert, 1991, ANASTASIA - The Musical, 1998, (as Prince Paul), LIVING WATER, 1995, TANZ DER VAMPIRE, Highlights 1998, (as Count von Krolock), in German, TANZ DER VAMPIRE, Complete Recording (as Count von Krolock), Original Vienna Cast, 1998, ARIA2 - new horizon, DANKE, 1999, duet with Brian Sutherland, NOW AND FOREVER: The Andrew Lloyd Webber Box Set, November 2001, duet with Sarah Brightman "All I Ask of You", MORE BROADWAY'S GREATEST LOVE SONGS, January 2002, duet with Sarah Brightman "All I Ask of You", ENCORE, Sarah Brightman, April 2002, duet with Sarah Brightman "Think of Me", STEVE BARTON – Memorial Concert, spring 2002, 2 songs, "Simply Flying" from 1984 and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" from 1995, November 2004, BEST OF MUSICAL!, 2 songs from Tanz der Vampire, "Totale Finsternis" and "Unstillbare Gier", (VÖ: 2004-11-08).